Bathrooms continue to be a consistent home highlight for owners, with many focusing on functionality this year, says the 2024 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study.
The survey of more than 1,200 respondents found making bathrooms more accommodating has grown notably, rising from 23% in 2023 to 27% in 2024. In contrast, improving resale value has dipped from 31% to 26%.
"Consistent with past Houzz research, homeowners are renovating for the long term, making significant investments in functional spaces like primary bathrooms," says Marine Sargsyan, Houzz staff economist. "While changes to layouts, shower area, flooring, and plumbing may be unsurprising, what stands out is the growing trend towards future-proofing homes for personal use and the needs of loved ones. This shift has pushed resale value considerations further down the priority list, as homeowners focus on comfort and long-term living."
See below for 10 compelling bathroom design trends from the report.
White hues: After white, off-white is the most popular color for most bathroom features. It surpasses gray in all categories except vanities, where gray leads by one percentage point. Wood is the No. 1 vanity color choice (26%), while white follows closely (22%).
Wet rooms: Among upgraded bathrooms this year, 13% are wet rooms. Better use of space is the leading factor, with 66% of homeowners citing this as their primary reason. Universal design (39%) and aesthetics (33%) also are notable motivations.
Alcove and low-curb showers: Low-curb showers rank No. 1, chosen by 45% of homeowners, an increase of two percentage points from 2023. Alcove showers closely follow, at 44%, up by two percentage points year over year as well. Curbless remains popular too, though the share of homeowners choosing them has dipped slightly (21% in 2024 versus 24% in 2023).
Tiled showers: Nearly nine in 10 homeowners opt for tile when upgrading their shower flooring and walls (87% and 83%, respectively). Ceramic and porcelain are the most common materials for shower surfaces, though some homeowners opt for marble and acrylic.
Alcove bathtubs: Freestanding flat-bottom bathtubs are the top tub choice again this year, though their popularity has slightly decreased (55% in 2023 versus 42% in 2024). Alcove bathtubs, on the other hand, have risen in popularity by 15 percentage points, to 39%.
Stock vanities: The majority of homeowners (57%) still opt for a custom or semi-custom vanity, though the share has decreased by five percentage points year over year. Stock vanities are on the rise, selected by 31% of homeowners, a five percentage point increase, while 7% opt for a ready-to-assemble option.
Engineered quartz tops: For vanity countertops, engineered quartz remains the favorite, selected by 42% of homeowners, followed by natural stone options: quartzite (20%), granite (15%), and marble (13%).
Undermounts sinks: Undermount is the most favored sink style, chosen by 61% of homeowners. Integrated sinks are a distant second choice (15%), followed closely by drop-in sinks (14%).
Solo mirrors: Most owners (59%) install only a single mirror, but installing two mirrors is also popular among 37% of homeowners. Five percent choose three or more mirrors. LED lighting tops the list of upgraded mirror features (21%).
Specialty toilets: More than two in five homeowners install toilets that are powered by specialty features (41%), over a third of which are built into the toilet (35%). Features include bidet seats (23%), bidet seats with water pressure (21%), self-cleaning functionality (19%), air dryers (17%), and heated seats (17%).
